Articles: sars-cov-2.
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Limited data are available in COVID-19 patients on the prediction of treatment response to systemic corticosteroid therapy based on systemic inflammatory markers. There is a concern whether the response to systemic corticosteroid is different according to white blood cell (WBC) counts in COVID-19 patients. We aimed to assess whether WBC count is related with the clinical outcomes after treatment with systemic corticosteroids in severe COVID-19. ⋯ Leukopoenia may be related with a better response to systemic corticosteroid therapy in COVID-19 patients requiring oxygen supplementation.KEY MESSAGESIn severe COVID-19 treated with systemic corticosteroids, patients with leukopoenia showed a lower hazard for composite poor outcome compared to patients with normal white blood cell counts or leukocytosis.Leukopoenia may be a potential biomarker for better response to systemic corticosteroid therapy in COVID-19 pneumonia.
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Combined use of surgical mask with filtering facepiece (FFP) 2 masks has been popular among the health-care workers. However, the effect of this preference on the vital values of individuals stays as a challenge among the professionals. The present study aimed to assess the effect of FFP2 mask versus combined use of it with surgical mask on the SpO2 values and pulse rates of individuals. ⋯ According to the present study, wearing only the FFP2 mask or FFP2-surgical mask combination seems not to cause any effect on the SpO2 values and pulse rates of the participants.
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Reducing unnecessary routine laboratory testing is a Choosing Wisely® recommendation, and new areas of overuse were noted during the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ This intervention was associated with reduced routine inflammatory marker testing in non-intensive care unit COVID-19 hospitalized patients across 11 hospitals. Variation was high among individual hospitals.
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The continual course of the pandemic points to the importance of studies on the rate and durability of protective immunity after infection or vaccination. ⋯ Patients had ≥ 90% positivity after at least 9 months of symptoms, both anti-N and anti-S antibodies. In all samples, both anti-N and anti-S antibody levels were lower in females. The findings suggest that the quantitative values of anti-S antibodies remained high for at least 9 months and could provide protection.